DEMARCHE: TURNING OFF THE CEIRPP UN-SPONSORED

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 011796

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL IS
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE: TURNING OFF THE CEIRPP UN-SPONSORED
ISRAEL-PALESTINE EVENT IN ROME 3/22-23/07


1. (U) This is an action request. Department requests USUN
urge UN Undersecretary General Gambari and/or Secretary
General Ban to persuade the Committee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People (CEIRPP) to
cancel its event on Israel-Palestine scheduled for March
22-23 in Rome. Department also requests Embassy Rome urge
the Government of Italy at the highest level possible to
remove their support for this event. Department requests
that this demarche be delivered no later than February 2.
Posts should draw freely from background information in paras
3-4 below when making these points. End action request.


2. (SBU) Objectives: Department instructs USUN and Embassy
Rome to pursue the following objectives:

-- Note that, while we appreciate the intentions of the
Government of Italy to assist the Lebanese and Palestinian
people, the U.S. is opposed to this initiative, which is
particularly unhelpful at this time when there are promising
efforts to renew discussions on the Middle East, including
the February 2 Quartet meeting in Washington and a later
planned trilateral meeting with Secretary Rice, PM Olmert and
PA President Abbas.

-- Emphasize that such an event, which will inevitably
become a forum for one-sided criticism of Israel, will poison
the international environment and make it harder for both
sides to move forward towards negotiations.

-- Emphasize that the Italian proposal to reorient the event
to address "alliance of civilization" issues is not likely to
be successful. Note that there is already a UN organization,
the Alliance of Civilizations, to address the issue.
Additionally, UNESCO has its own "Dialogue of Civilizations"
along the same lines. We should not duplicate the activities
of these organizations in the CEIRPP.

-- (For Rome) Note that we do not support the Committee on
the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian
People (CEIRPP),which perpetuates the UN,s unhelpful bias
on the Israel-Palestinian conflict and makes no contribution
to helping the parties come together to resolve their
differences.

-- (For Rome) Note also that, particularly in light of
Italy,s command of UNIFIL, Italy should take special care to
maintain a balanced position on Middle East questions.
Stress that by supporting this event, Italy will be aligning
itself in the public eye to the discredited CEIRPP.

-- (For USUN) Express U.S. concerns about the impact of
this event on the UN's relationship with the U.S.,
specifically that one of the first events under the new UN
leadership will be seen by the U.S. Congress and public as
yet another example of UN-sponsored Israel bashing.


3. (SBU) Background: At the request of the Committee on
the Exercise of the Inalienable Right of the Palestinian
People (CEIRPP) and the Palestinian PermRep in New York,
Italy has agreed to host an ill-considered event on
Israel-Palestine on March 22-23 in Rome. The Italians
support this event as part of their post-Lebanon-conflict
commitment to refocus international attention on the
Palestinian question. On January 20, the Italian Embassy in
Washington, DC, delivered an aide memoire announcing their
intention to "formulate suggestions for (the CEIRPP) event's
success." The note continues that Italy would like the
discussion to remain focused on areas of common ground rather
than the "condemnatory and argumentative tones (Israel
bashing) that characterize debates on the Israel-Palestine
dispute at the UNGA."


4. (SBU) Background cont.: Despite the conciliatory and
balanced approach planned by the Italians, the U.S. has a
number of concerns about this event:

-- Despite the best intentions of the Government of Italy,
this event is likely to devolve into a divisive,
argumentative, and condemnatory platform, which will do
nothing to bring the parties together. While we recognize
Italy's desire, due in part to its lead role in UNIFIL, to
assist the Lebanese and Palestinian people, this event will
not provide any tangible benefits to either group and will

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only perpetuate the common view that the UN can not address
the issue with balance.

-- The U.S. finds this initiative unhelpful to the
Secretary's recent efforts to renew discussions on the Middle

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East Peace Process (including pursing a two-state solution),
beginning with the Quartet meeting on February 2.

-- The timing is inopportune for the new leadership at the
UN. At a time with the new Secretary General and his team
should be making particular efforts to enhance the UN's
relationship with the U.S., this event would be seen in
Congress and by the American people as another example of
UN-sponsored Israel bashing.

-- The U.S. does not support and is actively trying to
terminate the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable
Rights of the Palestinian People (CEIRPP),which perpetuates
the UN,s unhelpful bias on the Israel-Palestinian conflict
and makes no contribution to helping the parties come
together to resolve their differences.

-- This event will cover similar ground to other UN
organizations - the Alliance of Civilizations and UNESCO's
"Dialogue of Civilizations."


5. (U) Point of contact: Responses and follow-up inquiries
should be slugged for Raymond Hotz, IO/UNP. Department
appreciates Posts' assistance.
RICE